Florida police accused of racial profiling; stopped man 258 times

Miami-area police have been accused of racial profiling after stopping and questioning a young black man 258 times in four years. They reportedly also arrested him 56 times and searched him more than 100 times.

The USA Today reported the most serious charge Earl Sampson, 28, has been convicted of is possession of marijuana.

Miami Gardens police have arrested Sampson 62 times for trespassing at the 207 Quickstop. Sampson works as a clerk at the convenience store, the USA Today reported the Miami Herald stated.

Owner of the store, Alex Saleh, 26, said he wants to know why that for more than a year Sampson, as well as other 207 Quickstop customers and employees have been stopped and frisked repeatedly by Miami Gardens police. He reported most of those have been poor and black. Saleh said some have been stooped up to three times in one day.

The New York Daily News reported Saleh plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the mayor of the city and the police department. He says he has installed cameras in the store to monitor police activity both inside and outside of his store.

"He's a good guy, a humble guy, a quiet guy," Saleh said of Sampson. "He's not a convicted felon."

The police department did release a statement to the Miami Herald, however, stating "the department is committed to serving and protecting the citizens and businesses in the city."

"There is just no justifying this kind of behavior," police policy consultant Chuck Drago commented to the Herald. "Nobody can justify overstepping the constitution to fight crime."

According to newshour24.com, when Saleh told police they did not have a search warrant, he was told the law enforcement officers would open an investigation. One reportedly told him, "it's been 15 months. "